LINDSAY + BEN'S NYC ENGAGEMENT

Having lived in New York for so many years, I love roaming the city and discovering new places.  It will always be home to me.  Lindsay and Ben have a fantastic view of the city from their rooftop and took me to some of their favorite spots.  Ralph's is probably the best ice's/ice cream that I've ever had.  Lindsay and Ben love it so much that they will be serving it up at their Lighthouse Point Park Wedding early next Fall.  I spent a beautiful day with this fun loving couple and I'm really looking forward to their wedding!

SUMMER SCENES

 There were heirloom tomatoes and wildflower meadows, quaint little churches and a vintage firetruck displayed on a wooded roadside - a hero set out to pasture.  I will always prefer the simpler life of summer.  

THE ORLOWSKI FAMILY

I photographed Kris and Kristen at our annual photographers picnic.  Kristen was a few days away from delivering their beautiful baby girl so it was a maternity session and family session all in one.  Kris is an awesome photographer and although we know each other on facebook, it was fun to get to know him and his family in person.

FORT TRYON PARK ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Irun proposed to Erika at Fort Tryon Park so it was a natural choice for our engagement session.  It's truly a gem just north of the bustle in midtown Manhattan.  We didn't go into The Cloisters but the buildings exterior is incredible and the gardens are extensive.  I'm really looking forward to their spring wedding at The New Haven Lawn Club!

LIZ + LUCIANO WEDDING | NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT

Liz is a childhood friend ~ we were practically babies together.  Our Mom's met through the Newcomers club in New Canaan and became fast friends.  We kids went to school together and our families shared many outings from ice skating on Mill Pond (yes it used to freeze) to weekend ski trips and fall picnics in Pound Ridge.  Our families, and in particular our Mom's,  have a very special relationship to this day.  We've always celebrated each others major life events,  so I was genuinely thrilled to hear that Liz was traveling back to New Canaan for her wedding to Luciano.  What an adorable couple!  Photographing people in love is always a pleasure but this was such a joyous occasion for me.  I've never seen Liz so happy!  Welcome to the family Luciano!  

FAIRFIELD COUNTY HUNT CLUB BENEFIT HORSE SHOW

  The Fairfield County Hunt Club Horse Show benefits The EQUUS Foundation and is the only national horse show in Fairfield County that is open to the public free of charge. The five-day show offers over 250 classes in which national and local equestrians of all ages compete.  The show is held on the grounds of the Fairfield County Hunt Club at 174 Long Lots Road in Westport, Connecticut, a landmark in Fairfield County since its establishment in 1923.  I could really appreciate the commitment to training and showing on this level.  I loved the formality of the event and the majestic beauty of the horses.

PEONY WEEK

  I have quite a few Peonies in my garden.  They were planted sometime in the early 1900's by the Hildebrandt's and I cherish them.  I usually devote an entire week to photographing them when they are in bloom.  This years flowers opened sooner than expected and didn't last long due to extreme heat and heavy rain.  I picked them daily, photographed what I could and then gave them to friends and family to enjoy before they died.

A RAINY CARNIVAL

It was a foggy morning for the annual May Fair in New Canaan which made the empty carnival scene feel eerie and dramatic.  I grabbed my camera and headed out before the crowds arrived.  

NANTUCKET LIFESTYLE PART II

I'm hoping to go back to Nantucket during the off season this year.  Maybe I'll make it for the annual Christmas walk!  Here are a few more scenes from summer.  This year I was just a couple of weeks early for the hydrangeas which are always incredible.

NANTUCKET LIFESTYLE PART I

 

THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

I'm a big animal lover and "Ellis" and "Delia" my two Labradoodles have an enviable lifestyle.  Especially in the summer.  We visit with our neighbor's dogs, swim in the river and go to the dog park at Waveny often.  I've recently been loving shooting pet owners with their dogs.  To celebrate the "Dog Days of Summer" I will be offering pet portrait mini sessions in "Spencers Run" at Waveny Park.  Sessions lasting approximately 20 minutes are $100 and include a DVD of your images.  Send me a note to schedule an appointment!

PRIVATE GARDEN TOUR IN NORTH STAMFORD

My friend Lucy raves about her job, her amazing bosses and the gorgeous children that she cares for.  She's recently been showing me pictures of the kids and the beautiful hidden garden surrounding the house.  It turns out that Sara and Jason's garden was soon to be featured on one of the Garden Conservancy's Open Days and they invited me to come photograph it before the public arrived.  I've been here twice now and it's amazing how a woodland garden changes in just a few weeks.  Both Sara and Jason have such great laid back attitudes.  The day that I met them they were painting the house exterior, entertaining the kids and expecting guests for dinner the same night.  It felt like my crazy lifestyle and I had a blast wandering around the garden and spending time with their family.

WEDDING AT THE ROGER SHERMAN INN // NEW CANAAN, CT

I've known Herbert and Pauline for several years through my church.  I was delighted to photograph their wedding and reception at the Roger Sherman Inn and knew many of the guests personally.  It was a joyous occasion that most of our congregation attended and fun for me to shoot since I also was married at St. Michaels.

MOTHER'S DAY SALES EVENT

Here's a little inspiration to finally capture those images you've been wanting of your kids!  We're having a 50% off weekend Mother's Day Sale~wow!  Available on our storefront.

LIFESTYLE // SPRING

THE TULLY CENTER GANG

Mother's day is coming soon so I thought that I'd share a few images from a personal project that I have been working on to document my Mother's life.  My Mom is an incredible woman!  At 86 years young, she gets more exercise and has a better social life than I do some days.  Her time is her own and she keeps busy with things that she cares about.  Several times a week she attends an aerobic swim class at the Tully center in Stamford.  She has been going for years and has developed some great friendships.  The Tully center gang have been really receptive to my photographing them during class. These guys work hard and I can't wait to go back again.  

CHIC 50's STYLE WEDDING FEATURED ON GRACE ORMONDE WEDDING STYLE

I've been dying to share this intimate wedding at Lord Thompson Manor and was so excited for Christine and Corey that it was recently featured on Grace Ormonde Wedding Style.  Christine and I met years ago at the New Haven Lawn Club while I was scouting the venue for a client.  Christine is the director of weddings at the club and we became fast friends while talking about unique weddings.  Since Christine plans weddings for her work and has just about seen it all, she and Corey really wanted to create a totally unique weekend experience for their guests.  After a ceremony rehearsal, guests dined on a real Texas BBQ buffet and made s'mores by the bonfire.  The wedding day was full of surprises.  The garden ceremony was followed by cocktails in a recreated 50's diner where even the servers dressed the part.  Each of the dining rooms were transformed with Christine's distinct color palette and unique table layouts.  The floral design tablescapes that Jennifer from Fleur de Lys created rivaled that of the Macy's Flower show!  Each guest had their own individual wedding cake embellished in a complimentary color to their dining room.  But by far the biggest surprise was the "after dinner entertainment"!  Guest were escorted to a field where 20 classic cars from the 50's were lined up to view a drive-in movie, "The Long, Long Trailer".  This big reveal had been a total secret and it was so fun to watch people's excitement over which car they would sit in.  During intermission guests were escorted back to the venue to enjoy popcorn and a variety of traditional movie snacks.  A wedding is always a happy event, but in Christine & Corey's love for one another they celebrated their love of life with their guests too!

The vintage cars were scheduled to be picked up early the next morning, so I was running around trying to shoot them all when John caught me taking self portraits.  John is the director of corporate and social events at The New Haven Lawn Club and such a hoot!  We were still running from car to car taking pictures of ourselves while the rental company was clearing out the field.  I think that we all had dreams of driving one of these beauties home!

This was hands down the most involved, creative and visual wedding that I've shot.  It's always an amazing pleasure to shoot for creative-out-of-the-box thinkers and I was so honored to be a part of this!  So many talented people came together to produce this gorgeous event.  Lord Thompson Manor is beautiful and secluded.  The food is the best I've had at any wedding and the staff are just delightful!  Many thanks to my good friend Danya Jimenez for helping me photograph it all.  Danya has traveled to Vegas to shoot with me and is currently planning her own wedding in her native Mexico.  Check out her photography and cinematography here!  And my biggest thanks to Christine & Corey for trusting me to capture their vision.  I'm certain that I enjoyed this weekend event as much as the guests did.  I think we need a reunion at The Cottage House!

Contributing Vendors // Venue~Lord Thompson Manor // Florist~ Fleur de Lys // DJ~Correlation Productions // Wedding Cakes~On The Rise Baking // Rental Cars~Classic Car Motor Company // 50's Props~Antique Amusement // Rental Items~ Party Rental Ltd. // 50's Diner Furniture~ PBD Events // Hair & Makeup~Naomi's Studio & Salon // Tuxedo's~Bonardi's // Photography~ Cynthia Brown Studio

CREATE ART/LEAVE A LEGACY

  We are now carrying these environmentally responsible coffee table books!  Moving stories off of our computers and into our lives!  Creativity is meant to be shared.

HAPPY EASTER

STYLISH ENGAGEMENT PARTY AT WILTON OLD TOWN HALL

I've known Dove and her family for several years now.  I had the amazing experience of traveling to Oahu with them to photograph sister Katie's wedding in 2011.  I just love this family so I was thrilled when Dove & Jim announced their engagement.  They had their engagement party at the Old Town Hall in Wilton.  Both the Old Town Hall and the stately Congregational Church across the street are beautiful historic landmarks of Wilton.  I never knew that you could rent this building for parties and it's practically around the corner from me.  It oozes of vintage charm yet has a complete kitchen and is very reasonable to rent.  This was like a family reunion and such a joyful event.  Dove & Jim will be married this Fall at the Coveleigh Club in Rye, New York.

I can't remember who grabbed this shot of me with Jane and Veronica, but it's nice to be on the other side of the camera at a party with my girlfriends!